(a lot of the reaction was about how big SeVon Pittman looks (#11). Hayes, Baldwin are huge too. Fragel's lower half is unbelievable. He's a cut 300 at 6' 8". I am ecstatic that they figure to start Fragel and Mewhort at the tackles and leave Norwell at guard.

Left to right the OL today was Mewhort, Norwell, Linsley, Hall and Fragel.

From memory, 2nd team O-line (or as they are calling it...the "uh-oh line"...

Baldwin, Carter, Bobek, Underwood, Brown (also Decker at RT)

other notable from the observations of both the BSB guys and the BN guys, (mostly Biddle, who is a good, informative tweeter)

Guys who looked good at WR...TY Williams, Devin Smith...

Freshmen singled out by Meyer for praise...Taylor Decker...in town 3 days, and probably already 2nd team behind Fragel at RT...Jacoby Boren at center.

Marcus says Tyvis Powell was with the 2's (w/Doran Grant)at CB...and that he was both "huge" and Marcus called him "very, very, very fast".

Klein was limited, so Curtis Grant was with the 1's at MLB...with Shazier (Will) and Sabino (Sam) at the other spots. DB's as expected, Howard and Roby at CB, Bryant and Barnett at Safety. Nickel sees Bryant move to star and O. Johnson comes in at FS.

On offense, Hyde was at TB...with Hall and Dunn (who looks very trim) WR's were Smith and Spencer, with Fields (and also Jordan Hall) working in the slot. Philly Brown with 2's, with TY Williams.

"I believe it is the nature of the human species to reject what is true but unpleasant and to embrace what is obviously false but comforting." H.L. Mencken

With all the concern about the O Line, I actually like the looks of that top 5. And it will still be intact in 2013 when it matters, with Decker replacing Fragel.

I like the top 3 CB's and I hope we actually use Grant as the nickel against some spread teams as opposed to dropping Bryant to the Star and insterting Johnson. I doubt it happens but that's one change I'd like to see with the new regime. I'm tired of watching skinny linebackers/slow safeties chasing slot receivers around the middle of the field.

neoleo wrote:With all the concern about the O Line, I actually like the looks of that top 5. And it will still be intact in 2013 when it matters, with Decker replacing Fragel.

I like the top 3 CB's and I hope we actually use Grant as the nickel against some spread teams as opposed to dropping Bryant to the Star and inserting Johnson. I doubt it happens but that's one change I'd like to see with the new regime. I'm tired of watching skinny linebackers/slow safeties chasing slot receivers around the middle of the field.

Agree on the safety issue. For me, OJ was one of the team's biggest disappointments in 2011. He never has shown the willingness to mix it up and hit people...lacks safety instincts, IMO.

I like the team's top 3 CB's too...only trouble is they are the team's ONLY 3 CB's, not counting true freshmen...(and also not counting Adam Griffin...sorry...)That problem is solved a year from now with Burrows, Woodard and maybe Caleb Day or someone else, but for now, it's pretty thin. Looks like Tyvis Powell will play corner, but unclear yet whether Najee Murray will be a CB or S. Maybe Armani Reeves can help right away, but he's not enrolled early, so that doesn't help...you just gotta hope Howard and Roby stay healthy.

"I believe it is the nature of the human species to reject what is true but unpleasant and to embrace what is obviously false but comforting." H.L. Mencken

Coming from a Wolverine, we're the football equivalent of a formerly abused wife of a meth addict who just remarried the safe nice guy. We're just glad we have someone who's aware that it's a rivalry and that tackling on defense is integral. Baby steps.

I thought Smith showed the most promise in his limited carries last year (athletically). We didn't really get to see enough carries to gauge his vision/instincts. Smith is clearly a specimen and it will be interesting to see if anything happens with him.

I really want to see Dunn carry the ball against big boys. He was a bully in HS, but I didn't see the elite quickness in his highlights, I just saw brute strength which works in HS. Not saying he is a bust, but I am not sure that he ends up being the answer.

Coming from a Wolverine, we're the football equivalent of a formerly abused wife of a meth addict who just remarried the safe nice guy. We're just glad we have someone who's aware that it's a rivalry and that tackling on defense is integral. Baby steps.

C.J. Barnett likes what he sees in the team's new offense. "When these guys get it down, it'll be great," he said. "They spread the field and definitely keep the defense on its toes. You're going to see plays you've never seen before."

"I believe it is the nature of the human species to reject what is true but unpleasant and to embrace what is obviously false but comforting." H.L. Mencken

Spring Game (April 21) will be televised live by BTN, it was announced today.

BTW, if your cable provider carries BTN, you can get the channel on your smartphone at no additional cost. (Not exactly new...looks like it's been available since 11/11, but I'm just getting around to grabbing it.)

BTN2Go.com is the place to go find out about it, or just search for the app on your phone, and it will prompt you to log in with your cable provider account info.

In addition to being able to watch BTN live, there is a TON of other on-demand content available...their original content...Icons series, Journey series, etc, plus replays of lots of games. Best is probably the Vault series of old film from way back...Red Grange...Hopalong Cassidy type stuff.

Wonder if showing the Spring game live will hurt attendance. They say they have already sold 15,000 tickets...more than normal pre-sale. As usual, turnout will probably depend mostly on the weather, but it's fair to say enthusiasm is high.

"I believe it is the nature of the human species to reject what is true but unpleasant and to embrace what is obviously false but comforting." H.L. Mencken

danwismar wrote:A bit off-topic, but probably not threadworthy on its own...

Spring Game (April 21) will be televised live by BTN, it was announced today.

BTW, if your cable provider carries BTN, you can get the channel on your smartphone at no additional cost. (Not exactly new...looks like it's been available since 11/11, but I'm just getting around to grabbing it.)

BTN2Go.com is the place to go find out about it, or just search for the app on your phone, and it will prompt you to log in with your cable provider account info.

In addition to being able to watch BTN live, there is a TON of other on-demand content available...their original content...Icons series, Journey series, etc, plus replays of lots of games. Best is probably the Vault series of old film from way back...Red Grange...Hopalong Cassidy type stuff.

Wonder if showing the Spring game live will hurt attendance. They say they have already sold 15,000 tickets...more than normal pre-sale. As usual, turnout will probably depend mostly on the weather, but it's fair to say enthusiasm is high.

Interesting that Meyer said that he was not high on Bennett in the offseason, but is a fan now. I thought it was pretty obvious last year that Bennett was going to be a big playmaker. Hell he made a lot of big play as a freshman. Now we just need to find the ends that will allow them to move Bennett to his more natural inside position.

Bennett could also be an all world guard too. As good as he was on D in HS, he was significantly better as an OL.

Coming from a Wolverine, we're the football equivalent of a formerly abused wife of a meth addict who just remarried the safe nice guy. We're just glad we have someone who's aware that it's a rivalry and that tackling on defense is integral. Baby steps.

danwismar wrote:A bit off-topic, but probably not threadworthy on its own...

Spring Game (April 21) will be televised live by BTN, it was announced today.

BTW, if your cable provider carries BTN, you can get the channel on your smartphone at no additional cost. (Not exactly new...looks like it's been available since 11/11, but I'm just getting around to grabbing it.)

BTN2Go.com is the place to go find out about it, or just search for the app on your phone, and it will prompt you to log in with your cable provider account info.

In addition to being able to watch BTN live, there is a TON of other on-demand content available...their original content...Icons series, Journey series, etc, plus replays of lots of games. Best is probably the Vault series of old film from way back...Red Grange...Hopalong Cassidy type stuff.

Wonder if showing the Spring game live will hurt attendance. They say they have already sold 15,000 tickets...more than normal pre-sale. As usual, turnout will probably depend mostly on the weather, but it's fair to say enthusiasm is high.

Easy is defined by how early you get there of course. Lots of public parking along Olentangy River Rd north of Lane...near the Woody Hayes practice building...or if you get lucky, somewhere off of High Street north of Lane. If you come in from 71 on 17th, you can find parking in the residential neighborhoods just east of High St and 15th.

"I believe it is the nature of the human species to reject what is true but unpleasant and to embrace what is obviously false but comforting." H.L. Mencken

furls wrote:Interesting that Meyer said that he was not high on Bennett in the offseason, but is a fan now. I thought it was pretty obvious last year that Bennett was going to be a big playmaker. Hell he made a lot of big play as a freshman. Now we just need to find the ends that will allow them to move Bennett to his more natural inside position.

Bennett could also be an all world guard too. As good as he was on D in HS, he was significantly better as an OL.

The guys who were at practice Wednesday said Bennett had displaced Bellamy, taking the reps at SSDE with the 1's. Meyer was also quoted saying Steve Miller had shown well as a pass rusher.

"I believe it is the nature of the human species to reject what is true but unpleasant and to embrace what is obviously false but comforting." H.L. Mencken

eO, the most striking difference I notice between Meyer and Tressel is that Meyer tells you exactly what he thinks when asked a question. Tressel was famous for wrapping everything he said in euphemisms and non-offensive blather that said essentially nothing, but sounded serious.

Meyer pretty much tells it like he sees it. He's not happy with the shape the players are in...he has no idea who the playmakers on this team will be...the second string offensive line is "a problem"....this was the kind of stuff we never heard about player personnel under JT.

"I believe it is the nature of the human species to reject what is true but unpleasant and to embrace what is obviously false but comforting." H.L. Mencken